A tradition that dates back 46聽years will be renewed today when Ebb Tide Rugby Football Club of Victoria hosts the Osaka Gentlemen in over-40s oldtimers matches, beginning at 2 p.m. at Macdonald Park in James Bay.
There will be two games between Ebb Tide and Osaka Gentlemen sides, matching younger and older age classes, of 40 minutes duration each.
Ebb Tide is the longest-running over-40s rugby club in British Columbia. The club was formed to answer the request of a touring Japanese club, the Wak Wak Rugby Club, which was looking to play over-40s rugby teams in sa国际传媒.
The first match, in what would become a lasting series, was played on Oct. 5, 1972, and Ebb Tide has continued as a club, playing oldtimers teams from across the continent and around the world. Ebb Tide has toured Japan on several occasions to play over-40s teams.
Since 1972, an oldtimers league was formed in sa国际传媒 for players 38 and older. Some players are in their 70s and 80s.
鈥淭he body may start to wither but the spirit and desire continue to burn brightly,鈥� said Ebb Tide player Darren Kovacs.
sa国际传媒 PREMIER: The three-time defending provincial champion UBC Thunderbirds defeated the Castaway Wanderers 36-24 in a sa国际传媒 Premiership playoff semifinal rugby game in Vancouver on Saturday. CW was the Barnard Cup Island champion.
The Thunderbirds advanced to the Rounsefell Cup sa国际传媒 championship game in Abbotsford next Saturday.
